June 18, 2025 • 46 mins
Step into the inspiring world of music and resilience with host Lynn Hoffman on this episode of “Music Saved Me.” Lynn sits down with powerhouse vocalist and songwriter Kelsie Watts, whose journey began in a musical family in Texas and took her from church choirs and school plays to viral stardom on NBC’s “The Voice” and a breakout role as Jane Seymour in Broadway’s SIX The Musical.
Kelsie shares how music became her anchor through life’s challenges, including the loss of her brother, and how songwriting helped her transform grief into hope with deeply personal tracks like “I Can’t Say Goodbye”. From her early days studying opera at Belmont University to collaborating with music legends and releasing empowerment anthems, Kelsie opens up about finding her voice, embracing vulnerability, and using her art to connect with others and heal.
Join Lynn Hoffman for an intimate conversation that explores Kelsie’s creative process, her viral moments, and the ways music continues to save and shape her life.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Music Saved Me because writing is personal. It's all about
the song. You know, I can sing my face off,
but if I'm singing for no reason and like there's
no meaning behind what I'm singing, nobody's gonna feel anything.
So it doesn't matter how boring. I would get tired
of me singing like that.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Welcome to another episode of the Music Saved Me Podcast,
where we explore the profound ways that music connects art
to emotional healing and shines a light on the stories
of artists who have been personally impacted by its power.
I'm your host, Lynn Hoffman, and welcome to the show. Today,
we are so thrilled to welcome singer, songwriter and Broadway
(00:34):
performer Kelsey Watts.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Now.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
You may know Kelsey from her viral performances on a
little show called NBC's The Voice, where her powerhouse vocals
and heartfelt artistry earned her a spot on Team Kelly
and millions of fans worldwide. But Kelsey's journey with music
goes far beyond the stage and the spotlight. She was
born into a musical family and has been using her
(00:58):
voice not only to entertain, but also to heal, which
is such a beautiful thing both herself and others through
original songs that tackle themes of loss, resilience.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
And hope.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Kelsey's advocacy for mental health is deeply personal. After losing
her brother to depression, she channeled her grief into songwriting,
creating moving tracks like I Can't Say Goodbye that offer
comfort and solidarity to anyone struggling with loss or emotional pain.
Her story is a testament to how music can be
a lifeline in our darkest moments, a message that truly
(01:33):
resonates at the core of this podcast. In this episode,
Kelsey opens up about her creative process, her experiences on
Broadway and the Voice, and how music's been a source
of healing and connection throughout her life. Now, whether you're
an artist or a fan, we sure do you hope
Kelsey's journey inspires you and reminds you that you are
never alone no matter what you're facing. Let's dive into
(01:57):
this honest and uplifting conversation with the beautiful and incredibly
talented Kelsey Watts on Music Save Me. Kelsey, Welcome to
the show. It is wonderful to have you here.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Hi, Oh my gosh, thank you. What an intro. My word.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Well, I was so kind, very deservant of it, But
certainly I'd love to start with the beginning in your
early influences. Can you tell us about your earliest memories
of music and how it became such an important part
of your life.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Of course, I really feel so cliche every single time
I say this, because it's it's just the truth. I
don't remember learning to sing. But the first video we
have of me singing, I was two years old in
looney tune pajamas, sitting on the fireplace, singing old song
called the Basics of Life by a gospel group called
(02:48):
for him. And it's just I've just grown up with music.
Both of my parents sing and played piano and grew
up singing in church. So I really don't remember life
with that.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Crazy enough, that's pretty cool that you have that memory
so far back, too.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Well, I've seen the video, man, Okay.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
So I'm like, I can't think beyond like ten.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Two years old. Yeah, no, I couldn't. I do not
remember that moment, but I've seen the video enough to
where I'm like, well, that was real, So I guess
it was me. It was meant to be. It was
meant meant to be.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Was there a moment or a song when you realized
that music was a source of healing and had that
kind of power.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Hmmm. I don't know if healing necessarily is the word
I would use for it. Like at the first time
I really felt like emotionally moved by music. But we
were on a vacation and we would always drive because
we had five people in our family, And so as
we're driving, I remember my parents playing Lem's rob the
(03:55):
musical and it was the tenth anniversary edition, and I
remember finally understanding like that Fontine was dying, and I
was distraught, like absolutely distraught, like crying in the backseat, like,
oh my gosh, there's not okay, like, and the five
finally like moved, like I was really really moved by it.
(04:16):
So that's the first time I actually remember having like
an emotional impact by music for sure.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Who were some of your early influences? This is I
love to ask this question because it always blows me away.
The younger the people I talked to, the more they
listen to music I listened to growing up, which blows
me away.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Oh. I really think it's because that music is iconic,
like legendary, it is. It is truly timeless. So I
mean Whitney Houston, Seline Yon, Tina Turner. But I was
also brought up on you know, def Leppard, the Rolling
Stones and Kiss and you know then Kirk Franklin and
I mean all of these like combinations, but from me
(05:00):
as a vocalist, Whitney Houston and Selene were really really
big influences. They just grow That's I feel like, that's
all I listen to growing up.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Wow, Well, that explains why you sound the way you do.
You give them a run for their money. Now, on
your personal journey and challenges, You've been very open about that,
especially with grief and mental health, which you know, not
normal to talk about publicly, right, I'm sure you know
(05:31):
how did music help you process those emotions?
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Yeah? So I lost my brother in twenty thirteen. And
most of the time, whenever people say they've lost somebody
to depression or they've taken their own life like it's
not a very popular topic of conversation. But a reason
that I love to talk about it is because it
gives a little bit of insight into what happens like
(05:59):
and everybody story is different, obviously, but for us, you know, Jordan,
there weren't telling signs. It's not like there was a
big plan out. He didn't leave anything there was. Long
story short, Once we got the autopsy back, we found
out he had run out of his medication, went from
such a high to such a low. It really was
(06:19):
a chemical like just his brain literally just broke. So
I love to talk about it because it gives people
a little bit more insight into what depression is. That
it's not just being sad, it's actually a chemical imbalance
in your brain, which is every other mental struggle as well.
(06:41):
So you know, I love to just give a little
bit of education as best I can. I'm not an expert,
but I lived it, so I've just I'll just share
at least what I've learned. But then using music in
order to heal from that is something that I'm able
to pass on. Like not only am I able to
tell peop, well, hey you're not alone, because I have
(07:01):
lived it. So even if I don't know exactly how
you feel, I can relate enough and then to be
able to put it into music, to be like this
song is for anybody that's lost somebody too soon, you know,
it's I think it's important because then people don't feel alone,
because the biggest way that people like feel isolated is
(07:23):
because they think, oh, well, I'm weird. Oh nobody else
has ever dealt with this. Oh I'm you know, it's
just me. Everyone's going to think I'm a burden or
or that this is a weird thing to deal with
or struggle with. And the reality is it's not weird.
It's very normal, very very normal. And so I think
the more that we talk about it, the less taboo
(07:46):
it becomes, and the more comfortable other people begin to
talk about it. You know what, now.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
It's very giving to want It's so selfless what you're doing.
You know a lot of people would turn inward and
maybe just being you know, the family or your close
friends you would talk to, or a therapist. But what
made you want to share this with people? Just just
out of wanting others to be okay? I mean, that's
a beautiful thing that you do. Thank you easy.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
It's it's it's not and I I really believe it
brings purpose to the pain. One thing that my dad
has always said is, you know, we are making it.
You know, people so often say, oh, we're gonna make it.
You're gonna make it. You're gonna make it. And with
a loss of this nature and with any sudden loss, honestly,
(08:43):
you are making it every day. You have to learn
to live with the grief instead of in the grief.
And for me, being able to share this story allows
Jordan's story to continue to minister to other people, and
that feels like it at least brings purpose to the
pain because it keeps him alive. Well yeah, oh my gosh,
(09:06):
for real, the amount of people that don't have never
met my brother but feel like they know him are countless.
It's insane.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
That's incredible. What was it like to channel your personal
experiences into your songwriting? I mean again very inward and
sharing personal things, which a lot of artists don't do.
You know, left to kind of figure out how does
this relate to my life? But you're like, this is
(09:34):
this is really your life?
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Yes? You know it's there's parts of it where it's like, oh,
how fun because I can really relate to this, and
then there's other parts where it really is painful, and
you have to learn how to separate in the moment, Like, sure,
you can let yourself feel it, but it's also very
important to process deal with it so that way you
(10:01):
can write about it and not have like an emotional
breakdown every time you talk about it or write about it.
Which I'm so grateful for my therapist because she helped
the ton with that being able to process the grief.
So when I do put it into my music, even
though it is raw and vulnerable, I'm able to say, hey,
(10:22):
I'm writing a story about this. Yes it's my story,
but it's going to do a lot of good because
it's going to reach a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Yeah, to separate that out, I mean, I know, just
when I get choked up about anything emotional, I can't
even get a word out. I don't know how you
could sing without having some type of.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
The first few times it was really hard, especially if
I can't say goodbye singing that live, I was like,
oh no. And then especially if like my husband's in
the audience or if my family's at oh, then I'm
like I can't look at you. I need I need
to just sit way over there because I will not
be able to turn off the house turn around.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Yeah all right, Well let's move on to something that
I'm dying to know about the voice and Broadway, because
these are two humongous things for you. I want to
know what your experience on The Voice was like and
how it was able to shape you as an artist.
I don't really know where you were before you got
there in terms of your skills, so I'm.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Yeah, you know. I feel like I'm always surprised with
this answer because the public view is Wow, The Voice
has created so many artists and this is what they
did and how awesome. Realistically speaking, I spent maybe a
total of ten minutes with Kelly, who's a lovely human,
(11:40):
But as far as being shaped as an artist, I
don't think it really was. One thing that it did
really teach me, though, was to have a very thick
skin and to see this as a business. Like I'd
already seen it as a business, but going into it,
I had to understand, this show is not going to
make me famous, It is not going to be my
(12:01):
like I've made it. But what it is going to
do is bring so much visibility to me and bring
me a lot of eyes that I couldn't even pay for.
So it taught me how to really dig into that
part of it and then to start showing people who
I really am because I was like, that's what people
are going to get or want to, like, are going
(12:23):
to want to latch onto outside of his show.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Yeah, that's amazingly insightful because no. I mean example, I
was featured in a magazine early on. I was working
in a town in Boston and short story, my mom said,
oh my god, maybe someone will see the picture and
they'll offer you a job. And I said, no, it
doesn't work that way.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
It doesn't work that way. No, it'd be really cool
if it did, Yeah, wouldn't it. I know. Wow, Yeah,
I'm curious your thoughts.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
How does performing on Broadway compared to singing on a
televised stage, because a lot of people don't really that
the televised stage is for the audience at home. Broadways
for the audience in the house.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Yes, they're so different. It is. It is so different.
For I mean even even with six I did a
press performance and its performed like to the cameras, and
that that alone is so odd. That was confusing. I
was like, wait, this is a stage song. How am
I doing? Okay, Like my brain sort of like freaking out,
(13:28):
But you know on television, yes, it's live. So I
mean they're both live, right, but the sound is way different.
Audience is like, we didn't have an audience on my
season because I was during COVID, so the audience was
at home.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Oh wow, even more strange.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
It was weird. Yeah, it was really really weird. So
I was like, I just feel like I'm in an
audition every day. Yeah, I bet, But it was more
of a Okay, this is going to be taped. There's
going to be multiple shots. I know, it's going to
be edited together. Nine out of ten they'll add like
an effect to the final vocal as they're taping, you know.
(14:05):
I mean, there's so much more that goes into it.
So with theater, which I think is a million times
more difficult, Oh my word, it's you can't like just
do it over. You'll be like, oh, hey, hold on
one sec. I'm gonna I'm gonna redo that. Like if
you miss a note, if you miss the beat, you're
(14:27):
you're It's obvious. And there are only six of us
on stage, so you really can't. You don't have a
lot of room for error. And you're also dealing with
a live audience's response when you're playing a character, but
you're also interacting with them, but I'm not Kelsey interacting
with them. I'm a character interacting with them. So it's
there are just a lot more layers, whereas both of
(14:50):
them can be really intense and a lot of work.
On the television side, I'm just Kelsey Kelsey, and I'm
doing this one song, this one performance because it's for
a TV show, and everybody knows exactly what it's for
and they already like me just because I'm on the voice.
And then you're in theater and there have been so
many different casts, They've heard so many people sing this song.
(15:11):
Some people don't even like theater that have come to
the show along with them, you know, and you're just like, hey,
oh my gosh, I hope to god you really like this,
and you're trying to, you know, be in this character
of it also be really entertaining at the same time,
on top of doing it eight times a week and
you're dancing for an hour and a half and heals
every single show, not leaving stage, trying to stay healthy.
(15:35):
There's just a lot. There's just a lot more to it.
And sometimes people, you know, even though you're not allowed
to film, sometimes people will get away with filming, and
sometimes it's not a great night, Like if you see bootlegs,
which right under it's a very controversial topic, but whenever
people you know, like take bootlegs and people that can't
don't have access to theater love them because they're like
I get to see a show. But then sometimes for
(15:57):
the actor it's not their best day, sometimes really tired,
and they'll get judged on one single performance where like
something messed up, and so it's just I think there's
a lot more at risk in a live Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
You're right, there is. There definitely is. There's a vulnerability
and then also that vibe like you said, you know
the voice.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
They're all like team but you know Kelsey, and there's
a right inside it just because I'm on it. Yeah
really yeah, it's amazing. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
And Broadway you're like, you know, people are looking at
you like let's see it.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Sometimes you be like what is this? Yeah? Yeah, I
mean now, granted, we get really awesome audiences because our
show is really fun and nine times out of ten
people are very like receptive and super fun, but man,
it is very difficult when you get the ones that
aren't and they're just on the front row. Yeah, and
you got to keep going and smiling. You're still smiling
(16:49):
because you're still in character and you're going to give
them the same show you give anybody else. So did
you learn It's incredible?
Speaker 2 (16:55):
And what a character builder or a strength builder for
you personally?
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Sure?
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Is there anything that you can think of that you
learned personally or as a performer during those sort of
really high profile moments in your life?
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Yes, for me, in any performance that I give, whether
it's in an arena of fifteen thousand people or on
natural television or on Broadway or at home, like I
every day, I'm like, all right, Jesus, I'm just singing
for you. That's it. And it takes away any pressure
(17:34):
I feel to be perfect or to be great or
to impress. So I always love. For me personally, faith
is a big part of my life, and it allows
me to refocus and resenter myself and say, all right,
I sing for an audience of one and that's all
the matters. So if these people love me, amazing. If
they hate me, that's okay. They don't have to love me.
(17:56):
So that's huge. Yes, And it did not happen overnight.
Let me talk like it took a while because as performers,
we like, we love performing, we love performing for people,
you know, Like we don't perform for the applause, but
if you don't get an applause, you're like, what did
I do wrong? Why don't you like me? What happened?
(18:17):
You know? And we're so easily influenced to buy audience's
reactions or comments online or because we're putting out craft
out there and performing. Yes, we put ourselves out there,
that's our job, but also it's just being human, like
you just want that validation. And so it took me
a while to really be able to focus in on
(18:39):
that and be like, well, this is why I can
be calm on national television, on a Broadway stage in
an arena, like because I'm like, I just I'm singing
for an audience of one, and that's the way that
I stay calm. That's all I can do.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
It's amazing, that is no, but I really for you
to be able to figure that out even you know, Also,
I would say that most performers want to perform because
they want to make people feel good, happy. Yeah, yeah,
you know, there's so much selflessness in it. But then
there's all that personal stuff that gets in the way.
(19:16):
So if you're able to find that faith, as you said,
to know that there's no pressure on you really than
what you put on yourself.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
It's so true. It is. It's so true. And I'm like,
as long as if I'm doing my job, I'm warming
up correctly, I know my voice is in the right
place and taking care of my body. You know, I'm
I know the steps, I know the songs, I know
where I'm supposed to be and what I'm doing. Well,
then I I don't. I already have the job. So
as long as stay good at what I'm doing, I'm fine.
(19:47):
So yeah, it takes away the pressure for me to
feel like I have to be something that I'm not.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
It's so true to what you just said, and it
works in any profession, you know, wherever, whatever you're doing
in life. To carry that type of wisdom, it's pretty incredible.
We'll be right back with more of the Music Saved
Me podcast. And by the way, if you like this podcast,
you are going to love our companion podcast called Taken
(20:13):
a Walk. It's hosted by my dear friend buzz Night,
and you can find it wherever you get your podcasts.
Welcome back to the Music Saved Me podcast, the podcast
where we discuss the healing powers of music with some
of the biggest names in music as well as up
and comers. Now, speaking of putting yourself out there, there's
(20:37):
a creative process. I would love for you to just
walk us through a little bit of your songwriting process
and where you find your inspiration to write songs and
is are you ever what are you thinking when you're writing?
Is this I know people are going to relate to
this or is it just your story? What's your process?
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Like? So I really love to write with people's That's
what I enjoy. And sometimes you're writing for sync which
is TV film, movie like things like that, where you're
you're writing a song for a prompt for something to
be placed for an advertisement, things like that. And then
sometimes you can do both at the same time and
(21:17):
you're writing for sinc but it's also for yourself and
it's like, well, I could totally release this as Kelsey Watts,
but then this would also do really great in a
sports ad, you know. I mean, so I like to
think that way as well. But I think the best
example is the song that I'm about to release in
a few weeks is called fit In, and I was
writing it with a guy named d Q. He's worked
(21:38):
with Gosh, Demulevado, Sosha Fiers. He's a great vocal producer.
He's incredible, and he's out of Nashville. And whenever we
first met, we just kind of sat down and hung
out for a bit. So anytime I'm writing with somebody new,
but first like two hours, really you're like, hey, let's
go get a coffee. You want to like just chill,
you know, let's just talk figure out what life is
(21:59):
about instead of you know, okay, we're here, let's write
a song. You know very Sometimes yeah, I'm sure sometimes
it's like that, but I don't. I don't like that,
so I won't work that way because writing is personal.
It's all about the song. You know, I can sing
my face off, but if I'm singing for no reason
and like there's no meaning behind what I'm singing, nobody's
(22:19):
gonna feel anything. So it doesn't matter how boring. Like
I would get tired of me singing like that. So
with this song, we were like, okay, well, you know,
what are some things that you've been feeling? How how's
life been, or you know, what's something that you've always
wanted to say? And we got into this topic of well,
I was never the cool kid growing up, Like I
wasn't you know, I didn't have a boyfriend. I wasn't
(22:41):
invited to from okay, I didn't have a date like
what you I never I never had a it from
I know, I know, I never did friend like until
gosh into college. Kind of yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Mean, it tells me that it's not a bad thing though.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
No, it's it saved me from a lot. I'm very grateful.
I'm not. I'm not upset. I wasnay in the moment,
I wasn't wasn't grateful, but down the line, I'm like, wow,
that saved me from a lot of issues. Oh come,
but you know, I like, yeah, I mean I wasn't
you know, invited to the parties. And I kind of
found my community in theater and choir and it was
a very very very small community. But I had a
(23:19):
couple of friends and I was always got along with everybody.
But I wasn't. I wasn't in the it proud, you know.
And so we were like, well, why don't we write
about that? And so the entire premise of the song
was like, all right, well, what if people told you, well,
I've been told them a lot, like, oh my gosh,
you're just a lot, am Well, you're not my people
ben a lot?
Speaker 2 (23:40):
You mean just because you're you talk a lot or
have a lot to say or thoughts.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
Thankfully, I haven't had people tell me that lately, like
but in like in high school really was like middle
school and high school were not fun for me. I
did not enjoy them at all. And you know, people
be like, oh, you're just a lot, And whether that
meant personality was a lot, they never elaborated. They were
just kind of mean, you know, So.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
What did you think it was?
Speaker 1 (24:07):
I thought it meant I was too loud, or I
sang too much, or I talked too much to people,
or like I needed to be more reserved, like my
personally that's what you thought? Yeah, Like my person's interested
was just like too much to handle and people didn't
like that. You did it affect you in a negative way?
Oh yeah, Oh my gosh. Absolutely. I felt like I
(24:29):
constantly had to change who I was in order to
be around people and to be accepted to fit in literally,
which is why I call it in I was like,
this is it? Yeah, so I mean it was. The
whole story of the song is basically a The first
line is I know that you think that you're a lot.
(24:49):
You love until it costs you all you've got, You
water it till you dry with everything you do, and
then say you're going to change for real this time.
But then you fall off and all in line, and
when you look up you find the dirty truth that
you're standing in your own way like it. And it's
because it's like, well, oh no, I'm totally gonna be
I'm gonna be fine, but I'm just gonna be me.
(25:11):
And then you find yourself going back into this cycle
of like, oh, well, what do people want me to be?
And honestly, that was something that I really felt after
leaving The Voice was I'd never released music before. I
had always wanted to be an artist and felt like
I was, but I didn't know how to get into
oh gosh, finding producers and writing and doing all of
the things, and and so I felt like I was
(25:32):
being pulled in multiple directions. Well you should just sing
ballads because you sing ballads really well, or well you
should do this, or well you should do this, Well,
you should just do pop because rock isn't really in
right now, so just be pop. And I was like,
just pop. So even into you know, being out of
the Voice, I felt like I had to fit into
some mold and honestly that lasted for a couple of years. Well,
(25:55):
I guess what am I supposed to be? Like? I mean,
I'm not supering a carpenter. I'm not around around it.
I loved them. I think they're both amazing, but that's
but that's not me, you know. So I was like,
so how do I how do I make myself fit?
And it just didn't work. It just simply didn't work.
And it wasn't until I really started pouring into social
(26:15):
media in twenty twenty three that something finally clicked. Because
I was so frustrated with social media I didn't want
to do it anymore. I was like, this is ridiculous.
Why is everything I do based on numbers? I can't
you know I don't have followers because I really didn't.
I mean I had like like twenty k from the
Voice on Instagram and what like seventy five k on
(26:38):
TikTok just from like some videos that my husband had
posted that went viral because it was a Disney video,
but for me and I didn't have any like fans
for lack of a better word, and so I just
I was like, I just I'm not gonna do this anymore.
And when I stopped trying and put forth the least
amount of effort and just stuck my phone in the
kitchen and put Brandon's phone here with a karaope track
(26:59):
and was making coffee, which is actually my life, Like
that's really what I do, you know, wasn't dulled up,
didn't have make it bond like walk around in sweats,
and everybody loved it. Even then, it took me a
while to understand, like, no, people just want to know you.
They just want to hear. They just want to hear using.
(27:21):
They don't want to see all the extra stuff, like
they want to get to know you. And so sure,
as an artist, you know, you'll continue to develop and elevate,
like the more successful that you get, and you can
create all of the things you want to create as
an artist, you know, and then you have the budget
to create it. One day, yeah, you know, from like
amazing one like one day my spectacles will be like
Lady Gagaz because I'll have a label paying for them hopefully,
(27:43):
or I'll be successful enough to be able to pay
for them myself, and like, you know, so you eventually
get there. But what I've loved is that people have
related to this, and I swear it's because in the song.
To bring it back around to the songwriting that I've
been doing has been more just of my story and
me just being real and while writing in a real way,
(28:06):
I've also been putting that in social media, being like
this is really who I am. So that way my
writing is consistent with what I present just as a
human being.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
It makes total sense to me. And just real quick
back to your high school. Were you friends with all
the different groups of people, like, you know, the kids
in acting and then the kids playing sports and.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
Yeah, yeah, I got along with everybody.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Yeah, because you had to, right, I had to, yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
For sure, and I and I wanted to. I wanted
to be everybody's friend because I really love people. But
you know, I would I remember specifically because I was
now I'm athletic. I was not athletic growing up, and
you know, I remember in eighth grade being forced to
play volleyball, and every single girl except for one and
(28:56):
she's still a friend of mine to this day. Every
girl like I want to be No, you can't be
on my team. You don't like you don't play like
you're not good. And they weren't literally in eighth grade,
just like passing the ball back and forth. We're not
about to go compete in a tournament. And they just
they were like, no, you suck at this. No you
(29:17):
can't play with me. And there was one girl that
was nice, and I was like, well, thank god, but
you were knives, you know, or I've been just awkward.
I did. So I was always like trying to be
friendly with all of the groups of people, but my
close friends, I mean I had maybe one or two maybe,
Like I think I still know what one or two
(29:38):
people are my school, Like.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
They're the ones that keep you grounded no matter how
how you go in life. Is if you're fortunate enough
to be able to still keep those friendships from early
on that were really tight, you know, they show sure curious.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
I really just became real friends with them in college.
We happened to go to those in high school, but
it wasn't until out of high school and going into
college that we were like, oh, hey.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
Hey, I know you.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
Hey, yeah, this is great you were nice to about Yeah
for real.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
All right, So I'm I curious if there are any
rituals or routines that you do before you go on
stage to perform. I asked this question from some people.
I've got some interesting responses, Like Peter Gabriel told me
before he goes on stage, he has to go to
the bathroom.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
That's it.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Yeah, he said something else a little more crass, but
I'm going to leave it at that.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
I know, right, that's fair. Yeah, yeah, no, it would
That is true, especially with six because I'm the one
that gets dressed first, and we have half hours, so
we don't leave the stage for the hour and a
half and so a half hour before that, we're all scheduled,
except the show starts at seven. At six point thirty,
every queen has a specific time you get into dress
(30:53):
because we can't dress ourselves, like it's too complicated, So
we have dressers that put us in costume. Yeah, and
then a wig prep and so it's all holding. But yeah,
you actually have to time out when you go to
the restroom because you're drinking water. Because it's trying to
take like you're trying to say, hydrate it, but you
can't go to the bathroom in the middle of the show.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
No strategic snaps anywhere in the yard, No.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
None, none, You're just like, well, you are strapped in
into three pairs of tights an a leotard, and the
posters spilt push you on stage. Good luck, come on,
like all right, but I mean outside of it, so
he is right outside of that. Vocally warm up probably
like thirty forty minutes. While I'm doing my makeup, I
have to do a physical dynamic warm up because I
(31:35):
mean we're doing tuck jumps in heels, so it's it's
a lot, so I have to make sure my body
is physically warm as well as my voice. So those
are the two like biggest I guess rituals you would say.
But as a group, once we get on stage, all
six of us, like, we'll all stand in a circle
and hold hands and we'll all try to synchronize our
(31:57):
breathing and we'll say one. Someone else has to say two, three,
four or five, six until we get to six. But
if we say it at the same time, we have
to start over.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
Oh that's cool, except for when the curtain goes up
and you're still back there. Well, thank you for that
insight into it. It's always interesting to hear all of
that stuff because you know, we live vicariously through you,
especially both of us who would love to do that
(32:27):
type of work. In terms of advocacy, let's talk about
the impact of what you do. You've used your platform
about mental health. I think I may have touched a
bit on this up front with your brother, But why
is this cause specifically so important to you?
Speaker 1 (32:47):
I think it's important to me because it is so taboo,
because there's such a lack of Now there's a conversation
around it, but for a very long time there has
not been a conversation around it because it makes people uncomfortable.
And I get it. It's not a fun topic to discuss.
(33:07):
You know. When I went to do an event for
DDE hirsh and nine eight eight and performed and went
there and you see all these people and every person
there is either a survivor of suicide or has lost
somebody to suicide, and it's incredibly sad. It's it's very sad,
and you're you're there to create awareness and to bring
(33:30):
like make a change. But it's also it's a heavy topic,
you know, because there's so much more that goes into it.
And then I feel like until the last until recently,
until over the last few years, there's been a lack
of education around it. So I think the more you
educate people, it just starts more of a conversation and
then if somebody is struggling with depression, they feel more
(33:54):
comfortable to say something's weird, like I think I need
to talk to somebody. And the people that reach out
to me and my family is not less. Still, people
reach out all the time. My dad goes and speaks
to different youth groups. I'll get asked to do podcasts
about it. It's just a it's a conversation that didn't
(34:19):
happen as much as I can get needed to. And
the more people talk about it, the less people so
awkward about it. You know.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
Yeah, absolutely, And he said it's a very tough thing
and it's not fun. But I think when those people
listening to you, hearing what you have to say, it
might actually turn into something that's a more positive thing
for them. The minute they know, oh that happens to you,
were you this it's amazing. What message do you hope
(34:48):
that listeners take away from your music and your story.
Speaker 1 (34:52):
I hope listeners take away the fact that they belong,
that there is hope that they can make it.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Have you heard from fans who have been impacted by
your music and can you share a couple of those
stories with us?
Speaker 1 (35:08):
Yeah, gosh, it's It's always the coolest thing to have
people tell me that they've been moved by something I've written,
something I've sung, you know, And it's one thing I
will say online people are really really kind to me.
I'm very blessed to have people be mostly kind on
Instagram and TikTok. So that's so it's always very cool
(35:30):
to see people's comments about the songs. Like my brother's
anniversary was in May and so that I re shared
the music video that I had done for him, and
people just concept like I lost my mom, I lost
my brother, I lost my dad, I survived, like I mean,
just tons. But what's really cool is when I meet
somebody in person and they tell me in person and
(35:53):
it happens a lot. Crazy enough, it happens a lot
in New York, and I get this is this still
freaks me out in the coolest way, not in a
bad way, but it freaks me out. Let's wait, because
I don't expect people to know who I am. I
just I just don't. And what's nuts is in New
York City, of all places, I get recognized more from
TikTok and Instagram than I do and like that I
(36:14):
ever have people will come up and they're like, oh,
I follow you and your last and oh my gosh,
I'm like, oh, bychay, you know, and so it's always
like so cool. But at the stage door, specifically, I
do my best after every show to go out to
the stage door to sign playbills. The only reason I
won't go out is if I'm actually sick or my
voice is kind of off. But I try to go
out after every show. And I had a girl tell
(36:35):
me one time because the interactions are typically brief, but
I took a second and she said, I just need
to say thank you for what you wrote about your brother,
because I tried to take my life and thankfully I
didn't succeed, but it helps to know I'm not the
only one. And it just like stopped me in my
tracks because I would I never thought that something I
(36:57):
would write or say like that would make such an
impact on somebody else. But that is the goal, you know,
That's that's the goal of what I want to be
able to tell people. And then I have another one
that's about you know, female empowerment and like finding yourself
worth again and loving yourself. It's called look What You Missed.
And I had a girl tell me the other day,
she's like, that is my favorite song I get to
(37:18):
be awesome And she's like, oh my gosh, she need
like twelve and I'm like, what, this is so cool?
I mean so so, I've had multiple moments where people
are talking to me at the stage door about my music,
and that is the coolest thing this is.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
I feel like they're talking to someone else else. Do
you feel sort of like what you know?
Speaker 1 (37:41):
Actually eat right? Twilight tone? Still yeah, I'm so serious.
I'm like, wait, really yeah cool? Oh my gosh, how amazing.
So I knows. What I'm hoping that this next song
does is that it reaches just an absurd amount of people,
so that way that message can actually scope. That's the goal.
(38:02):
I love. That's so much.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
Are there any dream collaborations or projects that you hope
to pursue.
Speaker 1 (38:08):
In the future. Oh absolutely, besides the stage like Lady
Gaga's I know, yeah, yeah, yeah, I would love to
do a collaboration with someone like Jelly Roll. I think
that would be so cool. I think he's awesome. To
work with someone like Pink or Rihanna would also be
(38:29):
very very cool. I know I'm dreaming big here, no
put it out there, come on, I know we're dreaming
really big here. So you know, I also am like,
there's there's just so many I mean, I'm a huge
fan of Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande like so as far
as collaborations, and even Lady Gaga would be just a
(38:49):
dream and such a fan of hers. So there's a
lot of artists I would love to collaborate with. But
another dream would be to originator role on Broadway. Oh so,
now that I'm in it, I've actually fallen in love
with it. You got the bug I do and so
much fun. I'm like, this is but great. So I
(39:09):
think it would be really cool too if the greatest
showman ever went in to Broadway and actually like came
to the States to be able to be in something
like that would be so fun, so cool. So I mean,
you know, really big dreams and you know, I want
to tour. I want to do it world tour and
be able to you know, sell out arenas and stadiums,
(39:31):
and you know that is that is the goal. And
not just for me. I mean like it would be
super cool to perform for that many people, but also
because I'm like, if I'm at that level, that means
that many people are hearing how much they matter. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
Yeah, Not to change the subject, I did have another
question for you about advice. Well, let me ask that
if you were going to give some advice to someone
who's struggling right now, and not just struggling, say with
the problems that sort of inspire tired you in your life,
with your brother, just any problem, what kind of advice
(40:05):
would you give?
Speaker 1 (40:07):
I would say anytime I personally am struggling, whether that
be feeling lonely, overwhelmed, sad, distant, like finding yourself someone
to be grounded with, I think is so important. I
think community is so important. And people that are in
(40:29):
your same industry is it's really helpful that people in
your same industry because they get it, they understand, they understand,
So even if it's just it's just one person. You
don't have to have an army, You just need just
one that you can really hunker down with and be like, hey,
I am not okay and then be able to just
sit there with you, you know, and not just try
(40:51):
to fix it. But I think for me, that's that's
been the most healing is having someone like my husband
who I can just be not okay with and that
is okay. And I'm blessed enough to have quite a
few friends that are really that awesome as well. So
I would say anyone that's struggling to find a community,
you know what, mom, dad, sister, brother, I mean, just anyone,
(41:13):
at least just one person is all you need.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
Oh that's amazing advice. Because the more successful you become,
the less you find people. It's hard to find people
who are happy for your success.
Speaker 1 (41:29):
I know that sounds crazy but now, but it's it's real.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
So yeah, at any mentors or or somebody that you
can just talk to me. But seriously, if it is
part of your profession, that definitely helps or in whatever
you're doing in life. But yeah, great advice. Okay, So
what song or artists have you had?
Speaker 1 (41:50):
Do you have right?
Speaker 2 (41:51):
Now I have I Get a Try by Michael McDonald.
I don't know if you're familiar with the song.
Speaker 1 (41:56):
Sort of yacht rocky.
Speaker 2 (41:57):
I love it, but it's like my favorite, even though
people say it's not a genre and it was made
up or whatever.
Speaker 1 (42:04):
Never cares. What song do you have on repeat? It's
going to be a terrible answer. What nothing's terrible? Well no, no,
it's going to be a terrible answer because it's not
an answer. Okay. So as as a singer, it was
constantly surrounded by music. I rarely listen to music.
Speaker 2 (42:22):
I'm not surprised by that at all.
Speaker 1 (42:24):
Yeah. I listened to a lot of podcasts, I listened
to audiobooks. Sometimes I just sit in silence. But I
don't have a song that I'm constantly, like constantly listening
to like that, I'm like, oh, yeah, let's go. I
mean I have a gym playlist.
Speaker 2 (42:39):
Well, if you hear something, for example, like for I
just heard that and I hadn't heard it in a
long time, so I just have it on.
Speaker 1 (42:45):
I just listened to it over and over again.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
Agnauseium you know, for the day or the hour or
blasted in the car doesn't have to be you know,
strict answer, like if you looked on your phone right now,
what was the last.
Speaker 1 (42:56):
Song you played? Let's see, Oh, here we go, We're
going right to do to day. I love it. I
would say, let's see what is it it is? If
you want perfection from Death Becomes Her? Wow, there is
was the last thing Michelle Williams I've played on. I
had just gone to see Death Becomes Her and I
(43:17):
looked up the the soundtrack because, oh my gosh, was
it incredible? Absolutely phenomenal. But one of my favorites. I
think I could always listen to Forever and Always is
River by Bishop Briggs.
Speaker 2 (43:31):
Oh awesome. Awesome artists too.
Speaker 1 (43:36):
Like that. Just oh I'm like so good.
Speaker 2 (43:39):
Yeah, my husband and I absolutely love her. We crank
that up in the car. You gotta have a good
stereo because otherwise don't even bother listening.
Speaker 1 (43:46):
Yeah, yeah, I know, yeah, but I would say that
that's when I could listen to for Forever and Always
and never get tired.
Speaker 2 (43:52):
Of awesome and you know, don't feel like it's weird
because I interviewed. I don't know if you know country
artists by the name of Craig Morgan, Yes, and yeah,
so he said the same thing. You know, I do
this for my job, but I don't use it for
myself personally, and I don't really have time to listen.
Speaker 1 (44:13):
And it sounds odd, but it doesn't sound so odd
because people like, oh, well, you're a artist, you must
listen to music all the time, and I'm like, yeah, yeah,
but not for fun. Yeah, it's a shame because there's
so much amazing music out there. And as somebody comes
out with an album and and I'm everybody talks about it.
Of course I'm going to go listen to it. But yeah, totally,
(44:34):
it's just different. It's so different.
Speaker 2 (44:36):
I don't want to let you go. I have one
more question. If you could perform anywhere in the world,
where would it be and why?
Speaker 1 (44:46):
Hmm? I would say rock and Rio and Brazil.
Speaker 2 (44:50):
Oh, great answer.
Speaker 1 (44:52):
That is where I would want to perform because those
fans are incredible. They are absolutely incredible. I just have
such a love for the people in Brazil. I did
you see that.
Speaker 2 (45:07):
Video on the beach where like millions of people went
to go see Gaga perform.
Speaker 1 (45:11):
Yes, Holy cow, that's now. That is insane. I was like, like,
is that real? It looked almost like AI, but it wasn't.
But I was like, oh, that's crazy. But I did
get to. I toured with Josh Stone for a little
bit and we played the Town Festival in uh Stapallo
(45:32):
and it was it's just so cool to see how
much those fans love music. I feel like going internationally.
I would also love to go to Asia. I would
love to go perform in Asia. They just love music
and they love artists, and so I think it'd be
a lot of fun to perform for them.
Speaker 2 (45:50):
Well, I know they would love They love you, and
something I don't know tells me that you will be
very soon.
Speaker 1 (45:59):
It's it's going to happen. I play out there. Yeah,
And isn't that funny?
Speaker 2 (46:04):
One percent of people write down their goals, But interestingly enough,
when you write them down, they have a funny way
of happening. Keep writing those songs. Kelsey Watts, thank you
so much for sharing your time with us on music.
Save me today and best of luck with everything in
the future, and please come back and see us again.
Speaker 1 (46:22):
Oh my gosh, of course, thank you for having me.
I have blasts. I don't want to let you go.
It's been a wonderful conversation my soul sister. Thank you
so much,
Music Saved Me because writing is personal. It's all about
the song. You know, I can sing my face off,
but if I'm singing for no reason and like there's
no meaning behind what I'm singing, nobody's gonna feel anything.
So it doesn't matter how boring. I would get tired
of me singing like that.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Welcome to another episode of the Music Saved Me Podcast,
where we explore the profound ways that music connects art
to emotional healing and shines a light on the stories
of artists who have been personally impacted by its power.
I'm your host, Lynn Hoffman, and welcome to the show. Today,
we are so thrilled to welcome singer, songwriter and Broadway
(00:34):
performer Kelsey Watts.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Now.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
You may know Kelsey from her viral performances on a
little show called NBC's The Voice, where her powerhouse vocals
and heartfelt artistry earned her a spot on Team Kelly
and millions of fans worldwide. But Kelsey's journey with music
goes far beyond the stage and the spotlight. She was
born into a musical family and has been using her
(00:58):
voice not only to entertain, but also to heal, which
is such a beautiful thing both herself and others through
original songs that tackle themes of loss, resilience.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
And hope.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Kelsey's advocacy for mental health is deeply personal. After losing
her brother to depression, she channeled her grief into songwriting,
creating moving tracks like I Can't Say Goodbye that offer
comfort and solidarity to anyone struggling with loss or emotional pain.
Her story is a testament to how music can be
a lifeline in our darkest moments, a message that truly
(01:33):
resonates at the core of this podcast. In this episode,
Kelsey opens up about her creative process, her experiences on
Broadway and the Voice, and how music's been a source
of healing and connection throughout her life. Now, whether you're
an artist or a fan, we sure do you hope
Kelsey's journey inspires you and reminds you that you are
never alone no matter what you're facing. Let's dive into
(01:57):
this honest and uplifting conversation with the beautiful and incredibly
talented Kelsey Watts on Music Save Me. Kelsey, Welcome to
the show. It is wonderful to have you here.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Hi, Oh my gosh, thank you. What an intro. My word.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Well, I was so kind, very deservant of it, But
certainly I'd love to start with the beginning in your
early influences. Can you tell us about your earliest memories
of music and how it became such an important part
of your life.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Of course, I really feel so cliche every single time
I say this, because it's it's just the truth. I
don't remember learning to sing. But the first video we
have of me singing, I was two years old in
looney tune pajamas, sitting on the fireplace, singing old song
called the Basics of Life by a gospel group called
(02:48):
for him. And it's just I've just grown up with music.
Both of my parents sing and played piano and grew
up singing in church. So I really don't remember life
with that.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Crazy enough, that's pretty cool that you have that memory
so far back, too.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Well, I've seen the video, man, Okay.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
So I'm like, I can't think beyond like ten.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Two years old. Yeah, no, I couldn't. I do not
remember that moment, but I've seen the video enough to
where I'm like, well, that was real, So I guess
it was me. It was meant to be. It was
meant meant to be.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Was there a moment or a song when you realized
that music was a source of healing and had that
kind of power.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Hmmm. I don't know if healing necessarily is the word
I would use for it. Like at the first time
I really felt like emotionally moved by music. But we
were on a vacation and we would always drive because
we had five people in our family, And so as
we're driving, I remember my parents playing Lem's rob the
(03:55):
musical and it was the tenth anniversary edition, and I
remember finally understanding like that Fontine was dying, and I
was distraught, like absolutely distraught, like crying in the backseat, like,
oh my gosh, there's not okay, like, and the five
finally like moved, like I was really really moved by it.
(04:16):
So that's the first time I actually remember having like
an emotional impact by music for sure.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Who were some of your early influences? This is I
love to ask this question because it always blows me away.
The younger the people I talked to, the more they
listen to music I listened to growing up, which blows
me away.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Oh. I really think it's because that music is iconic,
like legendary, it is. It is truly timeless. So I
mean Whitney Houston, Seline Yon, Tina Turner. But I was
also brought up on you know, def Leppard, the Rolling
Stones and Kiss and you know then Kirk Franklin and
I mean all of these like combinations, but from me
(05:00):
as a vocalist, Whitney Houston and Selene were really really
big influences. They just grow That's I feel like, that's
all I listen to growing up.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Wow, Well, that explains why you sound the way you do.
You give them a run for their money. Now, on
your personal journey and challenges, You've been very open about that,
especially with grief and mental health, which you know, not
normal to talk about publicly, right, I'm sure you know
(05:31):
how did music help you process those emotions?
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Yeah? So I lost my brother in twenty thirteen. And
most of the time, whenever people say they've lost somebody
to depression or they've taken their own life like it's
not a very popular topic of conversation. But a reason
that I love to talk about it is because it
gives a little bit of insight into what happens like
(05:59):
and everybody story is different, obviously, but for us, you know, Jordan,
there weren't telling signs. It's not like there was a
big plan out. He didn't leave anything there was. Long
story short, Once we got the autopsy back, we found
out he had run out of his medication, went from
such a high to such a low. It really was
(06:19):
a chemical like just his brain literally just broke. So
I love to talk about it because it gives people
a little bit more insight into what depression is. That
it's not just being sad, it's actually a chemical imbalance
in your brain, which is every other mental struggle as well.
(06:41):
So you know, I love to just give a little
bit of education as best I can. I'm not an expert,
but I lived it, so I've just I'll just share
at least what I've learned. But then using music in
order to heal from that is something that I'm able
to pass on. Like not only am I able to
tell peop, well, hey you're not alone, because I have
(07:01):
lived it. So even if I don't know exactly how
you feel, I can relate enough and then to be
able to put it into music, to be like this
song is for anybody that's lost somebody too soon, you know,
it's I think it's important because then people don't feel alone,
because the biggest way that people like feel isolated is
(07:23):
because they think, oh, well, I'm weird. Oh nobody else
has ever dealt with this. Oh I'm you know, it's
just me. Everyone's going to think I'm a burden or
or that this is a weird thing to deal with
or struggle with. And the reality is it's not weird.
It's very normal, very very normal. And so I think
the more that we talk about it, the less taboo
(07:46):
it becomes, and the more comfortable other people begin to
talk about it. You know what, now.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
It's very giving to want It's so selfless what you're doing.
You know a lot of people would turn inward and
maybe just being you know, the family or your close
friends you would talk to, or a therapist. But what
made you want to share this with people? Just just
out of wanting others to be okay? I mean, that's
a beautiful thing that you do. Thank you easy.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
It's it's it's not and I I really believe it
brings purpose to the pain. One thing that my dad
has always said is, you know, we are making it.
You know, people so often say, oh, we're gonna make it.
You're gonna make it. You're gonna make it. And with
a loss of this nature and with any sudden loss, honestly,
(08:43):
you are making it every day. You have to learn
to live with the grief instead of in the grief.
And for me, being able to share this story allows
Jordan's story to continue to minister to other people, and
that feels like it at least brings purpose to the
pain because it keeps him alive. Well yeah, oh my gosh,
(09:06):
for real, the amount of people that don't have never
met my brother but feel like they know him are countless.
It's insane.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
That's incredible. What was it like to channel your personal
experiences into your songwriting? I mean again very inward and
sharing personal things, which a lot of artists don't do.
You know, left to kind of figure out how does
this relate to my life? But you're like, this is
(09:34):
this is really your life?
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Yes? You know it's there's parts of it where it's like, oh,
how fun because I can really relate to this, and
then there's other parts where it really is painful, and
you have to learn how to separate in the moment, Like, sure,
you can let yourself feel it, but it's also very
important to process deal with it so that way you
(10:01):
can write about it and not have like an emotional
breakdown every time you talk about it or write about it.
Which I'm so grateful for my therapist because she helped
the ton with that being able to process the grief.
So when I do put it into my music, even
though it is raw and vulnerable, I'm able to say, hey,
(10:22):
I'm writing a story about this. Yes it's my story,
but it's going to do a lot of good because
it's going to reach a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Yeah, to separate that out, I mean, I know, just
when I get choked up about anything emotional, I can't
even get a word out. I don't know how you
could sing without having some type of.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
The first few times it was really hard, especially if
I can't say goodbye singing that live, I was like,
oh no. And then especially if like my husband's in
the audience or if my family's at oh, then I'm
like I can't look at you. I need I need
to just sit way over there because I will not
be able to turn off the house turn around.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Yeah all right, Well let's move on to something that
I'm dying to know about the voice and Broadway, because
these are two humongous things for you. I want to
know what your experience on The Voice was like and
how it was able to shape you as an artist.
I don't really know where you were before you got
there in terms of your skills, so I'm.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Yeah, you know. I feel like I'm always surprised with
this answer because the public view is Wow, The Voice
has created so many artists and this is what they
did and how awesome. Realistically speaking, I spent maybe a
total of ten minutes with Kelly, who's a lovely human,
(11:40):
But as far as being shaped as an artist, I
don't think it really was. One thing that it did
really teach me, though, was to have a very thick
skin and to see this as a business. Like I'd
already seen it as a business, but going into it,
I had to understand, this show is not going to
make me famous, It is not going to be my
(12:01):
like I've made it. But what it is going to
do is bring so much visibility to me and bring
me a lot of eyes that I couldn't even pay for.
So it taught me how to really dig into that
part of it and then to start showing people who
I really am because I was like, that's what people
are going to get or want to, like, are going
(12:23):
to want to latch onto outside of his show.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Yeah, that's amazingly insightful because no. I mean example, I
was featured in a magazine early on. I was working
in a town in Boston and short story, my mom said,
oh my god, maybe someone will see the picture and
they'll offer you a job. And I said, no, it
doesn't work that way.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
It doesn't work that way. No, it'd be really cool
if it did, Yeah, wouldn't it. I know. Wow, Yeah,
I'm curious your thoughts.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
How does performing on Broadway compared to singing on a
televised stage, because a lot of people don't really that
the televised stage is for the audience at home. Broadways
for the audience in the house.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Yes, they're so different. It is. It is so different.
For I mean even even with six I did a
press performance and its performed like to the cameras, and
that that alone is so odd. That was confusing. I
was like, wait, this is a stage song. How am
I doing? Okay, Like my brain sort of like freaking out,
(13:28):
But you know on television, yes, it's live. So I
mean they're both live, right, but the sound is way different.
Audience is like, we didn't have an audience on my
season because I was during COVID, so the audience was
at home.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Oh wow, even more strange.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
It was weird. Yeah, it was really really weird. So
I was like, I just feel like I'm in an
audition every day. Yeah, I bet, But it was more
of a Okay, this is going to be taped. There's
going to be multiple shots. I know, it's going to
be edited together. Nine out of ten they'll add like
an effect to the final vocal as they're taping, you know.
(14:05):
I mean, there's so much more that goes into it.
So with theater, which I think is a million times
more difficult, Oh my word, it's you can't like just
do it over. You'll be like, oh, hey, hold on
one sec. I'm gonna I'm gonna redo that. Like if
you miss a note, if you miss the beat, you're
(14:27):
you're It's obvious. And there are only six of us
on stage, so you really can't. You don't have a
lot of room for error. And you're also dealing with
a live audience's response when you're playing a character, but
you're also interacting with them, but I'm not Kelsey interacting
with them. I'm a character interacting with them. So it's
there are just a lot more layers, whereas both of
(14:50):
them can be really intense and a lot of work.
On the television side, I'm just Kelsey Kelsey, and I'm
doing this one song, this one performance because it's for
a TV show, and everybody knows exactly what it's for
and they already like me just because I'm on the voice.
And then you're in theater and there have been so
many different casts, They've heard so many people sing this song.
(15:11):
Some people don't even like theater that have come to
the show along with them, you know, and you're just like, hey,
oh my gosh, I hope to god you really like this,
and you're trying to, you know, be in this character
of it also be really entertaining at the same time,
on top of doing it eight times a week and
you're dancing for an hour and a half and heals
every single show, not leaving stage, trying to stay healthy.
(15:35):
There's just a lot. There's just a lot more to it.
And sometimes people, you know, even though you're not allowed
to film, sometimes people will get away with filming, and
sometimes it's not a great night, Like if you see bootlegs,
which right under it's a very controversial topic, but whenever
people you know, like take bootlegs and people that can't
don't have access to theater love them because they're like
I get to see a show. But then sometimes for
(15:57):
the actor it's not their best day, sometimes really tired,
and they'll get judged on one single performance where like
something messed up, and so it's just I think there's
a lot more at risk in a live Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
You're right, there is. There definitely is. There's a vulnerability
and then also that vibe like you said, you know
the voice.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
They're all like team but you know Kelsey, and there's
a right inside it just because I'm on it. Yeah
really yeah, it's amazing. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
And Broadway you're like, you know, people are looking at
you like let's see it.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Sometimes you be like what is this? Yeah? Yeah, I
mean now, granted, we get really awesome audiences because our
show is really fun and nine times out of ten
people are very like receptive and super fun, but man,
it is very difficult when you get the ones that
aren't and they're just on the front row. Yeah, and
you got to keep going and smiling. You're still smiling
(16:49):
because you're still in character and you're going to give
them the same show you give anybody else. So did
you learn It's incredible?
Speaker 2 (16:55):
And what a character builder or a strength builder for
you personally?
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Sure?
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Is there anything that you can think of that you
learned personally or as a performer during those sort of
really high profile moments in your life?
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Yes, for me, in any performance that I give, whether
it's in an arena of fifteen thousand people or on
natural television or on Broadway or at home, like I
every day, I'm like, all right, Jesus, I'm just singing
for you. That's it. And it takes away any pressure
(17:34):
I feel to be perfect or to be great or
to impress. So I always love. For me personally, faith
is a big part of my life, and it allows
me to refocus and resenter myself and say, all right,
I sing for an audience of one and that's all
the matters. So if these people love me, amazing. If
they hate me, that's okay. They don't have to love me.
(17:56):
So that's huge. Yes, And it did not happen overnight.
Let me talk like it took a while because as performers,
we like, we love performing, we love performing for people,
you know, Like we don't perform for the applause, but
if you don't get an applause, you're like, what did
I do wrong? Why don't you like me? What happened?
(18:17):
You know? And we're so easily influenced to buy audience's
reactions or comments online or because we're putting out craft
out there and performing. Yes, we put ourselves out there,
that's our job, but also it's just being human, like
you just want that validation. And so it took me
a while to really be able to focus in on
(18:39):
that and be like, well, this is why I can
be calm on national television, on a Broadway stage in
an arena, like because I'm like, I just I'm singing
for an audience of one, and that's the way that
I stay calm. That's all I can do.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
It's amazing, that is no, but I really for you
to be able to figure that out even you know, Also,
I would say that most performers want to perform because
they want to make people feel good, happy. Yeah, yeah,
you know, there's so much selflessness in it. But then
there's all that personal stuff that gets in the way.
(19:16):
So if you're able to find that faith, as you said,
to know that there's no pressure on you really than
what you put on yourself.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
It's so true. It is. It's so true. And I'm like,
as long as if I'm doing my job, I'm warming
up correctly, I know my voice is in the right
place and taking care of my body. You know, I'm
I know the steps, I know the songs, I know
where I'm supposed to be and what I'm doing. Well,
then I I don't. I already have the job. So
as long as stay good at what I'm doing, I'm fine.
(19:47):
So yeah, it takes away the pressure for me to
feel like I have to be something that I'm not.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
It's so true to what you just said, and it
works in any profession, you know, wherever, whatever you're doing
in life. To carry that type of wisdom, it's pretty incredible.
We'll be right back with more of the Music Saved
Me podcast. And by the way, if you like this podcast,
you are going to love our companion podcast called Taken
(20:13):
a Walk. It's hosted by my dear friend buzz Night,
and you can find it wherever you get your podcasts.
Welcome back to the Music Saved Me podcast, the podcast
where we discuss the healing powers of music with some
of the biggest names in music as well as up
and comers. Now, speaking of putting yourself out there, there's
(20:37):
a creative process. I would love for you to just
walk us through a little bit of your songwriting process
and where you find your inspiration to write songs and
is are you ever what are you thinking when you're writing?
Is this I know people are going to relate to
this or is it just your story? What's your process?
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Like? So I really love to write with people's That's
what I enjoy. And sometimes you're writing for sync which
is TV film, movie like things like that, where you're
you're writing a song for a prompt for something to
be placed for an advertisement, things like that. And then
sometimes you can do both at the same time and
(21:17):
you're writing for sinc but it's also for yourself and
it's like, well, I could totally release this as Kelsey Watts,
but then this would also do really great in a
sports ad, you know. I mean, so I like to
think that way as well. But I think the best
example is the song that I'm about to release in
a few weeks is called fit In, and I was
writing it with a guy named d Q. He's worked
(21:38):
with Gosh, Demulevado, Sosha Fiers. He's a great vocal producer.
He's incredible, and he's out of Nashville. And whenever we
first met, we just kind of sat down and hung
out for a bit. So anytime I'm writing with somebody new,
but first like two hours, really you're like, hey, let's
go get a coffee. You want to like just chill,
you know, let's just talk figure out what life is
(21:59):
about instead of you know, okay, we're here, let's write
a song. You know very Sometimes yeah, I'm sure sometimes
it's like that, but I don't. I don't like that,
so I won't work that way because writing is personal.
It's all about the song. You know, I can sing
my face off, but if I'm singing for no reason
and like there's no meaning behind what I'm singing, nobody's
(22:19):
gonna feel anything. So it doesn't matter how boring. Like
I would get tired of me singing like that. So
with this song, we were like, okay, well, you know,
what are some things that you've been feeling? How how's
life been, or you know, what's something that you've always
wanted to say? And we got into this topic of well,
I was never the cool kid growing up, Like I
wasn't you know, I didn't have a boyfriend. I wasn't
(22:41):
invited to from okay, I didn't have a date like
what you I never I never had a it from
I know, I know, I never did friend like until
gosh into college. Kind of yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Mean, it tells me that it's not a bad thing though.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
No, it's it saved me from a lot. I'm very grateful.
I'm not. I'm not upset. I wasnay in the moment,
I wasn't wasn't grateful, but down the line, I'm like, wow,
that saved me from a lot of issues. Oh come,
but you know, I like, yeah, I mean I wasn't
you know, invited to the parties. And I kind of
found my community in theater and choir and it was
a very very very small community. But I had a
(23:19):
couple of friends and I was always got along with everybody.
But I wasn't. I wasn't in the it proud, you know.
And so we were like, well, why don't we write
about that? And so the entire premise of the song
was like, all right, well, what if people told you, well,
I've been told them a lot, like, oh my gosh,
you're just a lot, am Well, you're not my people
ben a lot?
Speaker 2 (23:40):
You mean just because you're you talk a lot or
have a lot to say or thoughts.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
Thankfully, I haven't had people tell me that lately, like
but in like in high school really was like middle
school and high school were not fun for me. I
did not enjoy them at all. And you know, people
be like, oh, you're just a lot, And whether that
meant personality was a lot, they never elaborated. They were
just kind of mean, you know, So.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
What did you think it was?
Speaker 1 (24:07):
I thought it meant I was too loud, or I
sang too much, or I talked too much to people,
or like I needed to be more reserved, like my
personally that's what you thought? Yeah, Like my person's interested
was just like too much to handle and people didn't
like that. You did it affect you in a negative way?
Oh yeah, Oh my gosh. Absolutely. I felt like I
(24:29):
constantly had to change who I was in order to
be around people and to be accepted to fit in literally,
which is why I call it in I was like,
this is it? Yeah, so I mean it was. The
whole story of the song is basically a The first
line is I know that you think that you're a lot.
(24:49):
You love until it costs you all you've got, You
water it till you dry with everything you do, and
then say you're going to change for real this time.
But then you fall off and all in line, and
when you look up you find the dirty truth that
you're standing in your own way like it. And it's
because it's like, well, oh no, I'm totally gonna be
I'm gonna be fine, but I'm just gonna be me.
(25:11):
And then you find yourself going back into this cycle
of like, oh, well, what do people want me to be?
And honestly, that was something that I really felt after
leaving The Voice was I'd never released music before. I
had always wanted to be an artist and felt like
I was, but I didn't know how to get into
oh gosh, finding producers and writing and doing all of
the things, and and so I felt like I was
(25:32):
being pulled in multiple directions. Well you should just sing
ballads because you sing ballads really well, or well you
should do this, or well you should do this, Well,
you should just do pop because rock isn't really in
right now, so just be pop. And I was like,
just pop. So even into you know, being out of
the Voice, I felt like I had to fit into
some mold and honestly that lasted for a couple of years. Well,
(25:55):
I guess what am I supposed to be? Like? I mean,
I'm not supering a carpenter. I'm not around around it.
I loved them. I think they're both amazing, but that's
but that's not me, you know. So I was like,
so how do I how do I make myself fit?
And it just didn't work. It just simply didn't work.
And it wasn't until I really started pouring into social
(26:15):
media in twenty twenty three that something finally clicked. Because
I was so frustrated with social media I didn't want
to do it anymore. I was like, this is ridiculous.
Why is everything I do based on numbers? I can't
you know I don't have followers because I really didn't.
I mean I had like like twenty k from the
Voice on Instagram and what like seventy five k on
(26:38):
TikTok just from like some videos that my husband had
posted that went viral because it was a Disney video,
but for me and I didn't have any like fans
for lack of a better word, and so I just
I was like, I just I'm not gonna do this anymore.
And when I stopped trying and put forth the least
amount of effort and just stuck my phone in the
kitchen and put Brandon's phone here with a karaope track
(26:59):
and was making coffee, which is actually my life, Like
that's really what I do, you know, wasn't dulled up,
didn't have make it bond like walk around in sweats,
and everybody loved it. Even then, it took me a
while to understand, like, no, people just want to know you.
They just want to hear. They just want to hear using.
(27:21):
They don't want to see all the extra stuff, like
they want to get to know you. And so sure,
as an artist, you know, you'll continue to develop and elevate,
like the more successful that you get, and you can
create all of the things you want to create as
an artist, you know, and then you have the budget
to create it. One day, yeah, you know, from like
amazing one like one day my spectacles will be like
Lady Gagaz because I'll have a label paying for them hopefully,
(27:43):
or I'll be successful enough to be able to pay
for them myself, and like, you know, so you eventually
get there. But what I've loved is that people have
related to this, and I swear it's because in the song.
To bring it back around to the songwriting that I've
been doing has been more just of my story and
me just being real and while writing in a real way,
(28:06):
I've also been putting that in social media, being like
this is really who I am. So that way my
writing is consistent with what I present just as a
human being.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
It makes total sense to me. And just real quick
back to your high school. Were you friends with all
the different groups of people, like, you know, the kids
in acting and then the kids playing sports and.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
Yeah, yeah, I got along with everybody.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Yeah, because you had to, right, I had to, yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
For sure, and I and I wanted to. I wanted
to be everybody's friend because I really love people. But
you know, I would I remember specifically because I was
now I'm athletic. I was not athletic growing up, and
you know, I remember in eighth grade being forced to
play volleyball, and every single girl except for one and
(28:56):
she's still a friend of mine to this day. Every
girl like I want to be No, you can't be
on my team. You don't like you don't play like
you're not good. And they weren't literally in eighth grade,
just like passing the ball back and forth. We're not
about to go compete in a tournament. And they just
they were like, no, you suck at this. No you
(29:17):
can't play with me. And there was one girl that
was nice, and I was like, well, thank god, but
you were knives, you know, or I've been just awkward.
I did. So I was always like trying to be
friendly with all of the groups of people, but my
close friends, I mean I had maybe one or two maybe,
Like I think I still know what one or two
(29:38):
people are my school, Like.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
They're the ones that keep you grounded no matter how
how you go in life. Is if you're fortunate enough
to be able to still keep those friendships from early
on that were really tight, you know, they show sure curious.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
I really just became real friends with them in college.
We happened to go to those in high school, but
it wasn't until out of high school and going into
college that we were like, oh, hey.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
Hey, I know you.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
Hey, yeah, this is great you were nice to about Yeah
for real.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
All right, So I'm I curious if there are any
rituals or routines that you do before you go on
stage to perform. I asked this question from some people.
I've got some interesting responses, Like Peter Gabriel told me
before he goes on stage, he has to go to
the bathroom.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
That's it.
Speaker 2 (30:26):
Yeah, he said something else a little more crass, but
I'm going to leave it at that.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
I know, right, that's fair. Yeah, yeah, no, it would
That is true, especially with six because I'm the one
that gets dressed first, and we have half hours, so
we don't leave the stage for the hour and a
half and so a half hour before that, we're all scheduled,
except the show starts at seven. At six point thirty,
every queen has a specific time you get into dress
(30:53):
because we can't dress ourselves, like it's too complicated, So
we have dressers that put us in costume. Yeah, and
then a wig prep and so it's all holding. But yeah,
you actually have to time out when you go to
the restroom because you're drinking water. Because it's trying to
take like you're trying to say, hydrate it, but you
can't go to the bathroom in the middle of the show.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
No strategic snaps anywhere in the yard, No.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
None, none, You're just like, well, you are strapped in
into three pairs of tights an a leotard, and the
posters spilt push you on stage. Good luck, come on,
like all right, but I mean outside of it, so
he is right outside of that. Vocally warm up probably
like thirty forty minutes. While I'm doing my makeup, I
have to do a physical dynamic warm up because I
(31:35):
mean we're doing tuck jumps in heels, so it's it's
a lot, so I have to make sure my body
is physically warm as well as my voice. So those
are the two like biggest I guess rituals you would say.
But as a group, once we get on stage, all
six of us, like, we'll all stand in a circle
and hold hands and we'll all try to synchronize our
(31:57):
breathing and we'll say one. Someone else has to say two, three,
four or five, six until we get to six. But
if we say it at the same time, we have
to start over.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
Oh that's cool, except for when the curtain goes up
and you're still back there. Well, thank you for that
insight into it. It's always interesting to hear all of
that stuff because you know, we live vicariously through you,
especially both of us who would love to do that
(32:27):
type of work. In terms of advocacy, let's talk about
the impact of what you do. You've used your platform
about mental health. I think I may have touched a
bit on this up front with your brother, But why
is this cause specifically so important to you?
Speaker 1 (32:47):
I think it's important to me because it is so taboo,
because there's such a lack of Now there's a conversation
around it, but for a very long time there has
not been a conversation around it because it makes people uncomfortable.
And I get it. It's not a fun topic to discuss.
(33:07):
You know. When I went to do an event for
DDE hirsh and nine eight eight and performed and went
there and you see all these people and every person
there is either a survivor of suicide or has lost
somebody to suicide, and it's incredibly sad. It's it's very sad,
and you're you're there to create awareness and to bring
(33:30):
like make a change. But it's also it's a heavy topic,
you know, because there's so much more that goes into it.
And then I feel like until the last until recently,
until over the last few years, there's been a lack
of education around it. So I think the more you
educate people, it just starts more of a conversation and
then if somebody is struggling with depression, they feel more
(33:54):
comfortable to say something's weird, like I think I need
to talk to somebody. And the people that reach out
to me and my family is not less. Still, people
reach out all the time. My dad goes and speaks
to different youth groups. I'll get asked to do podcasts
about it. It's just a it's a conversation that didn't
(34:19):
happen as much as I can get needed to. And
the more people talk about it, the less people so
awkward about it. You know.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
Yeah, absolutely, And he said it's a very tough thing
and it's not fun. But I think when those people
listening to you, hearing what you have to say, it
might actually turn into something that's a more positive thing
for them. The minute they know, oh that happens to you,
were you this it's amazing. What message do you hope
(34:48):
that listeners take away from your music and your story.
Speaker 1 (34:52):
I hope listeners take away the fact that they belong,
that there is hope that they can make it.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Have you heard from fans who have been impacted by
your music and can you share a couple of those
stories with us?
Speaker 1 (35:08):
Yeah, gosh, it's It's always the coolest thing to have
people tell me that they've been moved by something I've written,
something I've sung, you know, And it's one thing I
will say online people are really really kind to me.
I'm very blessed to have people be mostly kind on
Instagram and TikTok. So that's so it's always very cool
(35:30):
to see people's comments about the songs. Like my brother's
anniversary was in May and so that I re shared
the music video that I had done for him, and
people just concept like I lost my mom, I lost
my brother, I lost my dad, I survived, like I mean,
just tons. But what's really cool is when I meet
somebody in person and they tell me in person and
(35:53):
it happens a lot. Crazy enough, it happens a lot
in New York, and I get this is this still
freaks me out in the coolest way, not in a
bad way, but it freaks me out. Let's wait, because
I don't expect people to know who I am. I
just I just don't. And what's nuts is in New
York City, of all places, I get recognized more from
TikTok and Instagram than I do and like that I
(36:14):
ever have people will come up and they're like, oh,
I follow you and your last and oh my gosh,
I'm like, oh, bychay, you know, and so it's always
like so cool. But at the stage door, specifically, I
do my best after every show to go out to
the stage door to sign playbills. The only reason I
won't go out is if I'm actually sick or my
voice is kind of off. But I try to go
out after every show. And I had a girl tell
(36:35):
me one time because the interactions are typically brief, but
I took a second and she said, I just need
to say thank you for what you wrote about your brother,
because I tried to take my life and thankfully I
didn't succeed, but it helps to know I'm not the
only one. And it just like stopped me in my
tracks because I would I never thought that something I
(36:57):
would write or say like that would make such an
impact on somebody else. But that is the goal, you know,
That's that's the goal of what I want to be
able to tell people. And then I have another one
that's about you know, female empowerment and like finding yourself
worth again and loving yourself. It's called look What You Missed.
And I had a girl tell me the other day,
she's like, that is my favorite song I get to
(37:18):
be awesome And she's like, oh my gosh, she need
like twelve and I'm like, what, this is so cool?
I mean so so, I've had multiple moments where people
are talking to me at the stage door about my music,
and that is the coolest thing this is.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
I feel like they're talking to someone else else. Do
you feel sort of like what you know?
Speaker 1 (37:41):
Actually eat right? Twilight tone? Still yeah, I'm so serious.
I'm like, wait, really yeah cool? Oh my gosh, how amazing.
So I knows. What I'm hoping that this next song
does is that it reaches just an absurd amount of people,
so that way that message can actually scope. That's the goal.
(38:02):
I love. That's so much.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
Are there any dream collaborations or projects that you hope
to pursue.
Speaker 1 (38:08):
In the future. Oh absolutely, besides the stage like Lady
Gaga's I know, yeah, yeah, yeah, I would love to
do a collaboration with someone like Jelly Roll. I think
that would be so cool. I think he's awesome. To
work with someone like Pink or Rihanna would also be
(38:29):
very very cool. I know I'm dreaming big here, no
put it out there, come on, I know we're dreaming
really big here. So you know, I also am like,
there's there's just so many I mean, I'm a huge
fan of Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande like so as far
as collaborations, and even Lady Gaga would be just a
(38:49):
dream and such a fan of hers. So there's a
lot of artists I would love to collaborate with. But
another dream would be to originator role on Broadway. Oh so,
now that I'm in it, I've actually fallen in love
with it. You got the bug I do and so
much fun. I'm like, this is but great. So I
(39:09):
think it would be really cool too if the greatest
showman ever went in to Broadway and actually like came
to the States to be able to be in something
like that would be so fun, so cool. So I mean,
you know, really big dreams and you know, I want
to tour. I want to do it world tour and
be able to you know, sell out arenas and stadiums,
(39:31):
and you know that is that is the goal. And
not just for me. I mean like it would be
super cool to perform for that many people, but also
because I'm like, if I'm at that level, that means
that many people are hearing how much they matter. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
Yeah, Not to change the subject, I did have another
question for you about advice. Well, let me ask that
if you were going to give some advice to someone
who's struggling right now, and not just struggling, say with
the problems that sort of inspire tired you in your life,
with your brother, just any problem, what kind of advice
(40:05):
would you give?
Speaker 1 (40:07):
I would say anytime I personally am struggling, whether that
be feeling lonely, overwhelmed, sad, distant, like finding yourself someone
to be grounded with, I think is so important. I
think community is so important. And people that are in
(40:29):
your same industry is it's really helpful that people in
your same industry because they get it, they understand, they understand,
So even if it's just it's just one person. You
don't have to have an army, You just need just
one that you can really hunker down with and be like, hey,
I am not okay and then be able to just
sit there with you, you know, and not just try
(40:51):
to fix it. But I think for me, that's that's
been the most healing is having someone like my husband
who I can just be not okay with and that
is okay. And I'm blessed enough to have quite a
few friends that are really that awesome as well. So
I would say anyone that's struggling to find a community,
you know what, mom, dad, sister, brother, I mean, just anyone,
(41:13):
at least just one person is all you need.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
Oh that's amazing advice. Because the more successful you become,
the less you find people. It's hard to find people
who are happy for your success.
Speaker 1 (41:29):
I know that sounds crazy but now, but it's it's real.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
So yeah, at any mentors or or somebody that you
can just talk to me. But seriously, if it is
part of your profession, that definitely helps or in whatever
you're doing in life. But yeah, great advice. Okay, So
what song or artists have you had?
Speaker 1 (41:50):
Do you have right?
Speaker 2 (41:51):
Now I have I Get a Try by Michael McDonald.
I don't know if you're familiar with the song.
Speaker 1 (41:56):
Sort of yacht rocky.
Speaker 2 (41:57):
I love it, but it's like my favorite, even though
people say it's not a genre and it was made
up or whatever.
Speaker 1 (42:04):
Never cares. What song do you have on repeat? It's
going to be a terrible answer. What nothing's terrible? Well no, no,
it's going to be a terrible answer because it's not
an answer. Okay. So as as a singer, it was
constantly surrounded by music. I rarely listen to music.
Speaker 2 (42:22):
I'm not surprised by that at all.
Speaker 1 (42:24):
Yeah. I listened to a lot of podcasts, I listened
to audiobooks. Sometimes I just sit in silence. But I
don't have a song that I'm constantly, like constantly listening
to like that, I'm like, oh, yeah, let's go. I
mean I have a gym playlist.
Speaker 2 (42:39):
Well, if you hear something, for example, like for I
just heard that and I hadn't heard it in a
long time, so I just have it on.
Speaker 1 (42:45):
I just listened to it over and over again.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
Agnauseium you know, for the day or the hour or
blasted in the car doesn't have to be you know,
strict answer, like if you looked on your phone right now,
what was the last.
Speaker 1 (42:56):
Song you played? Let's see, Oh, here we go, We're
going right to do to day. I love it. I
would say, let's see what is it it is? If
you want perfection from Death Becomes Her? Wow, there is
was the last thing Michelle Williams I've played on. I
had just gone to see Death Becomes Her and I
(43:17):
looked up the the soundtrack because, oh my gosh, was
it incredible? Absolutely phenomenal. But one of my favorites. I
think I could always listen to Forever and Always is
River by Bishop Briggs.
Speaker 2 (43:31):
Oh awesome. Awesome artists too.
Speaker 1 (43:36):
Like that. Just oh I'm like so good.
Speaker 2 (43:39):
Yeah, my husband and I absolutely love her. We crank
that up in the car. You gotta have a good
stereo because otherwise don't even bother listening.
Speaker 1 (43:46):
Yeah, yeah, I know, yeah, but I would say that
that's when I could listen to for Forever and Always
and never get tired.
Speaker 2 (43:52):
Of awesome and you know, don't feel like it's weird
because I interviewed. I don't know if you know country
artists by the name of Craig Morgan, Yes, and yeah,
so he said the same thing. You know, I do
this for my job, but I don't use it for
myself personally, and I don't really have time to listen.
Speaker 1 (44:13):
And it sounds odd, but it doesn't sound so odd
because people like, oh, well, you're a artist, you must
listen to music all the time, and I'm like, yeah, yeah,
but not for fun. Yeah, it's a shame because there's
so much amazing music out there. And as somebody comes
out with an album and and I'm everybody talks about it.
Of course I'm going to go listen to it. But yeah, totally,
(44:34):
it's just different. It's so different.
Speaker 2 (44:36):
I don't want to let you go. I have one
more question. If you could perform anywhere in the world,
where would it be and why?
Speaker 1 (44:46):
Hmm? I would say rock and Rio and Brazil.
Speaker 2 (44:50):
Oh, great answer.
Speaker 1 (44:52):
That is where I would want to perform because those
fans are incredible. They are absolutely incredible. I just have
such a love for the people in Brazil. I did
you see that.
Speaker 2 (45:07):
Video on the beach where like millions of people went
to go see Gaga perform.
Speaker 1 (45:11):
Yes, Holy cow, that's now. That is insane. I was like, like,
is that real? It looked almost like AI, but it wasn't.
But I was like, oh, that's crazy. But I did
get to. I toured with Josh Stone for a little
bit and we played the Town Festival in uh Stapallo
(45:32):
and it was it's just so cool to see how
much those fans love music. I feel like going internationally.
I would also love to go to Asia. I would
love to go perform in Asia. They just love music
and they love artists, and so I think it'd be
a lot of fun to perform for them.
Speaker 2 (45:50):
Well, I know they would love They love you, and
something I don't know tells me that you will be
very soon.
Speaker 1 (45:59):
It's it's going to happen. I play out there. Yeah,
And isn't that funny?
Speaker 2 (46:04):
One percent of people write down their goals, But interestingly enough,
when you write them down, they have a funny way
of happening. Keep writing those songs. Kelsey Watts, thank you
so much for sharing your time with us on music.
Save me today and best of luck with everything in
the future, and please come back and see us again.
Speaker 1 (46:22):
Oh my gosh, of course, thank you for having me.
I have blasts. I don't want to let you go.
It's been a wonderful conversation my soul sister. Thank you
so much,
Host
Lynn Hoffman
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